The distance from the San Diego State football practice fields to those located at Murphy Canyon Park is less than six miles, but the settings seemed worlds apart on Monday afternoon as the Aztecs began their spring football practice.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle that comes with a college campus, SDSU players are accustomed to walking a few steps from their locker room to a pair of fields (one turf, one grass) for practice.

The routine has been disrupted this year while the school’s locker room undergoes a months-long remodel, requiring the Aztecs to hit the road in order to have a locker room, equipment room (with washer/dryer) and training room that can accommodate them.

One observer likened the Murphy Canyon facility to a “ghost town,” empty as it has been since the Chargers pulled up stakes midway through last year.

Indeed, it is amazing how quickly the life can leave a place.

At least there weren’t any papers piled up in the driveway. Or burned jerseys, for that matter.

The front facade of the building still has a shadowy outline left where the letters spelling out the former tenant’s name have been removed. Similarly, on the back of the building one could see the shadow from a lightning bolt logo.

A pair of grass football fields were more brown than green on a crisp, blustery day in which palm trees waved as the visitors arrived for a month of workouts.

It came as somewhat of a surprise that the trees were still there. The Chargers seem to have removed everything that wasn’t bolted down — and some things that were. Like goal posts.

There was one set of uprights still upright in a back corner on a 60-yard turf field. It was good enough for SDSU kicker John Baron to boot a few balls, just like back home.

Aztecs coach Rocky Long and his players said they enjoyed the change of scenery.

“They’re enthusiastic,” Long judged following a nearly two-hour workout. “They all got here in time, and we got a good practice in. I think they probably enjoyed it. They thought the locker room was pretty cool. I don’t know why. Because it had blue carpet or something.”

That carpet and some blue-and-gold-colored outdoor railing adornments were among the few reminders of the former tenants, now but a (bitter) memory after they used the facility for the past two decades.

Added quarterback Christian Chapman, a Carlsbad High graduate: “I never got an opportunity to come here when they practiced, so it’s kind of good to come out and practice on the field for once.

“It’s wild. This is where the big dogs practiced. Those guys you looked up to growing up, Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, all those guys practiced on this field, and we get the opportunity to practice here. It’s crazy. It’s great we get to do it.”

Long marveled at how much room there is to roam.

“We’re not used to this much space,” he said. “We have 83 players out here, and it seemed like we didn’t have anybody out here, with all the room we have. It’s nice. I’ll tell you what, those NFL guys got it made.”

Long said the additional space “gives each position group a lot more room to work in, so they don’t have to worry about running into each other or stepping on one another. We have one 60-yard field just for the linemen.”

The setting seemed more inviting than ever to several media members who came out for the occasion.

“I just felt unwelcome here,” one longtime reporter said, referring to the Chargers’ tenure. “There were more rules than in the NCAA rule book.”

About the only rules on Monday were that no one was allowed on the second floor of the building or in the swimming pool.

No one came close to breaking either one.

The biggest change in the Aztecs’ routine — beyond the 10-minute drive to the facility — was moving team meetings from right before practice to 6:30 in the morning. Since there are no lights at the Murphy Park facility, practice time had to be moved up, which then necessitated moving meetings to before classes.

No one seemed to be complaining about the change. By 10 minutes into Monday’s practice, it seemed like just another day.

“I think we’re going to be all right,” Long said. “We’ve got some talent out here, but you can’t tell anything until we put pads on. I’ll wait to give you the judgment after our first scrimmage.”

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San Diego State rallies past New Mexico in final of Mountain West tournament to earn first berth to NCAA Tournament since 2015.

San Diego State rallies past New Mexico in final of Mountain West tournament to earn first berth to NCAA Tournament since 2015.

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San Diego State rallies past New Mexico in final of Mountain West tournament to earn first berth to NCAA Tournament since 2015.

San Diego State rallies past New Mexico in final of Mountain West tournament to earn first berth to NCAA Tournament since 2015.

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San Diego State Aztecs earn a first-round bye in Mountain West tournament with victory over conference champion Nevada in regular-season finale. (Video couresy of goaztecs.com)

San Diego State Aztecs earn a first-round bye in Mountain West tournament with victory over conference champion Nevada in regular-season finale. (Video couresy of goaztecs.com)

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San Diego State basketball head coach Brian Dutcher talks about the game against Boise State at the postgame press conference. (video courtesy of goaztecs.com)

San Diego State basketball head coach Brian Dutcher talks about the game against Boise State at the postgame press conference. (video courtesy of goaztecs.com)

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The school clears the 6-10 senior following an internal investigation into allegations he received a $1,400 loan.

The school clears the 6-10 senior following an internal investigation into allegations he received a $1,400 loan.

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SDSU outscores the Spartans 65-30 over the final 25 minutes to improve to 3-1 in the Mountain West.

SDSU outscores the Spartans 65-30 over the final 25 minutes to improve to 3-1 in the Mountain West.